Andy Meehan: Ironman Competitor and 3L at University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison, WI
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published April 23, 2007
Heather Jung
<<Meehan has participated in two Ironman races, which are triathlons consisting of 2.4-mile swims, 112-mile bike rides, and runs of 26.2 miles. While he said that he has not won any of the races, he has done well enough to qualify for the world championships, which take place in Hawaii.
He has also participated in several other triathlon competitions, and last year, Meehan was named an "All-American" by USA Triathlon, which he said is the governing body of triathlon competitions. He said that training takes quite a bit of time—about 20 hours per week usually consisting of five miles of swimming, 200 miles of cycling, and 50 miles of running.
"But I find that not only does my training make me feel better, but it also helps me focus during the rest of my day," Meehan said. "I'm hoping it's something I can continue to do for a long time to come."
Prior to attending law school, Meehan received his B.S. in Mathematics from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996 and his master's in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in 1998. After graduating from college, he spent eight years as an officer in the Air Force.
<< "I was stationed all over the country and did two tours in the Middle East," Meehan said. "I commanded a unit of special agents who were responsible both for investigating felonies committed by military personnel as well as conducting intelligence and antiterrorism operations. While overseas, most of my job entailed working with foreign police and intelligence services in an effort to prevent terrorist attacks before they occurred. I'd like to go into more detail, but if I told you anything more, I'd have to kill you. No, seriously."
Meehan said that it was his time and experiences in the military that made him want to become a lawyer.
"Everything I did had to be first cleared with the lawyers, and eventually I decided it would be a lot more fun to be the one determining the decisions of the box rather than the guy forced to operate within it," he said.
It is this out-of-the-box thinking and way of life that Meehan enjoys most about law school. He said that it is an ongoing exercise and that even if things are "settled," there is still room for arguments "that might justify a position that would otherwise be unsustainable." He enjoys the fact that the law commands that "unpopular or repugnant" causes be defended the same way more popular or righteous causes are.
<<During the summer after his first year (and for part of his second year), Meehan interned with the Wisconsin Innocence Project, which he described as, by far, the best academic experience he has ever had. The Wisconsin Innocence Project is one of the criminal law clinics available to law students at his school. While the cases are generally overseen by faculty members, the students take the most ownership—they screen the potential cases, conduct investigations, and argue on behalf of clients in court.
"Not only is it a tremendously important cause, but the learning curve becomes exponentially steeper once the one seeking answers is a client sitting across the table (or on the other side of the bars) from you rather than a professor standing behind a podium," Meehan said.
During his time at law school, Meehan has participated in several student organizations, most notably the Wisconsin Law Review and Phi Alpha Delta. He feels that student organizations, especially groups geared toward academic interests or public service, are "great supplements to legal education."
Q.
What do you do for fun?
A.
I travel as much as possible. Over winter break, my girlfriend (who is also a 3L) and I managed to get to New Zealand for three weeks. For spring break, we did a road trip to Shenandoah National Park and hiked on the Appalachian Trail. When I'm not traveling, I'm usually trying to plan the next trip.
Q.
What CD is in your CD player right now?
A.
Southern Rock Opera by the Drive-By Truckers.
Q.
What is the last magazine you read?
A.
National Geographic.
Q.
What is your favorite TV show?
A.
I'd have to put The Office at the top of the list, although I've resigned myself to the idea that I never seem to be around to watch it. The one show I watch fairly religiously is The Daily Show.
Q.
Who is your role model?
A.
My parents.
Q.
What is something most people don't know about you?
A.
I've been a lifelong fan of professional wrestling.
<<"I have to admit, though, that I am much more doubtful of the benefits of special-interest student associations. While it might be comforting to some students to have the safety net of an organization of students with the same ideological or cultural backgrounds, I also think that students who don't make an effort to interact outside of class with people who aren't like themselves are missing a tremendous opportunity," said Meehan.
He feels that the people who have influenced him the most during his time at law school have been his peers. Because of the school's intellectual, ideological, and cultural diversity, he said, he has been exposed to "more interesting people and worldviews in the past three years than I was in my previous 30 combined."
Meehan will graduate in May. After graduation, he plans to practice at Boardman Law Firm in Madison, WI. He hopes to eventually get into politics.
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